The panel event featured Kevin Chief, Principal of Chief Partnerships Manitoba Incorporated and former MLA for Point Douglas and provincial minister, and Lisa Kassenaar [BComm(Hons)/88], New York-based senior editor at Voice of America and co-founder of Bloomberg News’s global women’s project.

Prof Suzanne Gagnon, Canada Life Chair in Leadership Education and Director of the James W. Burns Leadership Institute, hosted and moderated the event.

With considerable public sector and community experience, Chief spoke about the importance of young people getting involved in our democracy, including between elections, to ensure that the issues they care about receive attention. He also spoke about the media’s role.

Opening with a powerful story of his uncle, a Sixties Scoop survivor who also experienced homelessness and was not permitted to vote, Chief highlighted how the media can bring recognition to the injustice in such situations. Showing the attendees a Winnipeg Free Press article about his uncle, he called on the students to be active participants themselves and to advocate for others: 

“If the media did not take the time to remind us that there are people like my uncle, those people would be invisible. (The WFP article) helps remind us that in every democracy, a basic human right is the right to vote. This story did not just strengthen (my uncle’s) voice, it strengthened the voices of advocates who are trying to honour human rights for all of us.”

Asper alumna Lisa Kassenaar [BComm(Hons)/88], joining the event from her location in Manhattan, provided a unique perspective from her experience as a senior writer and editor. With an extensive background in covering global women’s news, Kassenaar expressed the importance of media literacy to the 40 students present – all from a range of faculties.

“You are not powerless in this situation; it’s important to recognize your leverage,” she told the attendees. “Everyone in our democracy has the responsibility to question the sources of news, and pay attention to where they are receiving their information.”

David Pinette, a Red River College student and member of the UM’s President’s Student Leadership Program in Manitoba, reflected after the session:

“My largest takeaway is the call to action.  It’s not enough to just vote every 5 years, as a leader there must be more involvement in the process that directs the course of our country/ province/ city.”

“What we heard is: Find your cause.  That will mean different things for different people, as everyone has different skills.  Some people should be getting involved in a political group, others should join a lobby group they are passionate about, for example: Environmental Protection.  And the method that tugged at me the strongest: journalism.  Who is writing what we are reading, where are we reading it, and what is their slant on the topics at hand?”

Cassie Dong, a UM masters student in Peace and Conflict Studies, said she was inspired to hear the panelists note that while Canada is by no means immune from fake news, “the news companies want to hear from young people. And perhaps there are ways to build a better relationship between the news and young people to strengthen digital literacy.” 

Dr. Christopher Adams, Rector of St. Paul’s College and Adjunct Professor of Political Studies brought closing remarks and thanks to the panelists. He echoed one of the main themes he had heard: “Quoting Hannah Arendt, democracy creates visibility for the invisible among us.”

The Critical Issues Speaker Series offered by the James W. Burns Leadership Institute has been developed to enrich the student learning experience by connecting them with active and impactful leaders in the community. Open to all UM students and interested students of other post-secondary schools in Manitoba, the virtual series will be hosting more events into the 2021 academic year.

Watch for announcements from the James W. Burns Leadership Institute with more information about upcoming speaker series events presented virtually to students from all faculties and disciplines.

We sat down with Kevin Boreskie a 2019 PSLP participant to learn more about his group’s social change project, Celebrate Everything. The group is currently promoting awareness for the campaign and asking that members of the U of M community sign their pledge.

What is Celebrate Everything?

Celebrate Everything is one part of the WinnLove campaign that was started by Clinic Psychology Manitoba to improve civic pride in Winnipeg. The campaign uses evidence-based psychological science research and practice to improve community and leadership engagement in our city.

Our partners felt it was important to focus on being more inclusive by making our city truly multicultural and not just multiethnic. Doing so ensures citizens from non-majority groups feel included in civic culture, and it educates and informs those who are not from those cultural communities about that experience. Together, this reduces ignorance and the related hate and racism that exists today. 

How did your group decide to work with WinnLove?

We were tasked with finding a group that needed allies and help in the form of human capital. In our case, were able to offer our time and combined brainpower. Participants of the President’s Student Leadership Program came from diverse backgrounds and during our core week, a community was formed. The idea of inclusion and support were themes throughout the program, so when WinnLove was suggested, a natural belief in their mission unified our team. We listened to the passion around the Celebrate Everything campaign and felt this was a project we could support. Celebrate Everything needs voices lifting it up and people willing to have conversations about the need for inclusion in Winnipeg.

Clinic Psychology Manitoba believes in the idea of knowledge translation. Knowledge developed by experts usually remains siloed and inaccessible to the public, other professionals and leaders. If this information is made readily available in accessible ways, then we can all begin to make healthier decisions about how we live our lives and how we engage with one another. Celebrate Everything is a particularly important idea if we are going to make Winnipeg more inclusive.

What backgrounds did your group members come from? How did this affect your project?

We actually haven’t had a team conversation about our personal backgrounds and beliefs in terms of religion, holidays or preferred celebrations. It is far less important to define everyone than it is to ensure that everyone in Winnipeg gets to celebrate with genuine support from the community.

When it comes to academics, we come from various backgrounds, which is incredibly valuable in keeping a variety of perspectives and approaches present in our work. Between medicine, science, business, applied research, peace and conflict studies and clinical psychology backgrounds we can build momentum within the team as well as reach a broader network of supports.

How can we support the cause?

You can discuss Celebrate Everything, take the pledge and share the link to encourage others to sign up as well.

For more information about the President’s Student Leadership Program, please visit http://umanitoba.ca/faculties/management/leadership_institute/3434.html.

The program’s design focuses on recognizing and building capacity in applying different backgrounds, voices, disciplines and perspectives to solve complex leadership problems. Using innovative ideas and pedagogy of leadership, students participated in hands-on workshops and engaged with top leaders in business, healthcare and community development sectors. The group also visited a variety of private, public and community organizations, including the United Way, the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, Price Industries and Treaty One Corporation, developers of Kapyong Barracks urban reserve.

“Throughout the week, our cohort transformed from a group of individuals into an interdisciplinary student collective, despite a wide range of educational, cultural and geographic backgrounds,” said Jessica Piper, 2019 President’s Student Leadership program participant and U of M masters of architecture student. “The diversity of voices allowed us to understand and appreciate the stories, lessons and skills learned during the week from many perspectives, creating a rich, impactful and sometimes challenging experience. Moving forward professionally, I am confident that the demonstrated value of diversity, empathy and interdisciplinary in collaborative leadership will substantially inform my approach to architecture and design.”

“The students’ interest in leadership and dedication to the program was evident to everyone we met over the week,” said Suzanne Gagnon, Canada Life Chair in Leadership Education, Associate Professor, Leadership and Organization, and Director of the James W. Burns Leadership Institute. “I am deeply impressed with how they fostered a sense of community and learned from one another across the different disciplines and institutions represented, as well as how they learned from senior leaders and asked insightful questions informed by their unique perspectives.”

The initial week of the program is just the beginning of the participants’ leadership learning. Students continue to develop their skills throughout the academic year with bi-monthly events and seminars. Before the week of immersive learning was over, participants started their own leadership and social change project, working in interdisciplinary, cross-institutional teams, that they will complete during the 2019-20 academic year. 

The James W. Burns Leadership Institute was established at the I.H. Asper School of Business through a visionary investment from Canada Life, IG Wealth Management and the Power Corporation of Canada to shape the future leaders of Manitoba. The Institute provides students with opportunities to develop the leadership knowledge and skills necessary to pursue careers in any field, from technology and trades to healthcare and fine arts. 

For more information about this program, please visit http://umanitoba.ca/faculties/management/leadership_institute/3434.html.

Students from over 20 faculties and schools across the University of Manitoba, Red River College, University of Winnipeg and University College of the North applied to participate in the first year of the program. The 27 students who will participate in the inaugural year represent 18 different disciplines and all four levels of postgraduate study: diploma (3), bachelor’s (13), master’s (7), and PhD (4). Each applicant was required to demonstrate strong leadership experience, commitment and impact.

“We are thrilled with the quality of applicants and the range of applications we received for this first year of the President’s Program,” says Suzanne Gagnon, Canada Life Chair in Leadership Education and Director of the new Institute for Leadership Development at the University of Manitoba. “We are excited to see the diversity in this group, critically important to today’s leadership.”

“We look forward to working with these leaders and are very pleased to welcome them to our first year. They will help us to build the program for the future. Together we will study leadership as building bridges across communities, interests and disciplines, learning from top leaders’ challenges and opportunities in society, and from the diversity and experience in the group,” explains Gagnon.

The President’s Student Leadership Program is unique in Canada and is strategically important for Manitoba’s business community and economy, in that it aims to develop future leaders in various sectors for the province. This first cohort of the program will begin in June 2019.

Congratulations to the following students:

Anthonia Aina
University of Manitoba, Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management (Master’s program)

Ana Maria Pereira Antunes
Red River College, School of Indigenous Education – Community Economic Development

Lindsay Bain
University of Manitoba, Faculty of Arts – Philosophy (Bachelor’s program) 

Kevin Boreskie
University of Manitoba, Applied Health Sciences (PhD program)

Anthony Catalano
Red River College, Mechanical Engineering Technology

Brandon Chartier
Red River College, Stevenson Aviation – Aircraft Maintenance Engineering

Caity Curtis
Red River College, Business Administration

Katherine Davis
University of Manitoba, Asper School of Business (MBA program)

Ian Dimopoulos
University of Winnipeg, Faculty of Education (Bachelor’s program)

River Steele Guillas
University of Manitoba, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, College of Nursing (Bachelor’s program)

Jacqueline Hay
University of Manitoba, Applied Health Sciences (PhD program)

Ashley Hayward
University of Manitoba, Faculty of Graduate Studies – Peace and Conflict Studies (Joint Master’s program wth the University of Winnipeg)

Kelly Hrabarchuk
University College of the North, Faculty of Arts, Business and Science – Business Administration

Emily Hyde
University of Manitoba, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, College of Nursing (Master’s program)

Amy Jackson
University College of the North, Faculty of Arts, Business, and Science – History

Gursevak Kasbia
University of Manitoba, Faculty of Education (Bachelor’s program)

Kim Paolo Laberinto
University of Manitoba, Faculty of Engineering – Electrical Engineering

Nina Lam
University of Manitoba, Faculty of Arts – Global Political Economy (Bachelor’s program)

Michelle Lam
University of Manitoba, Faculty of Education – Education (PhD program)

Justin Lin
University of Manitoba, Faculty of Science (Bachelor’s program)

Calvin Loi
University of Manitoba, Asper School of Business (Bachelor’s program)

Kristen McGregor
Red River College, Health Sciences – Nursing (Bachelor’s program)

Marie-Jose Nadeau
University of Winnipeg, Biology Department – Bioscience, Technology and Public Policy (Master’s program)

Jessica Piper
University of Manitoba, Faculty of Architecture (Master’s program)

Daniel Plourde
University of Manitoba, Faculty of Engineering – Civil Engineering (Master’s program)

Mohammad Azizur Rahman
University of Manitoba, Faculty of Graduate Studies – Peace and Conflict Studies (PhD program)

Antonia Ulici
University of Manitoba, Faculty of Social Work (Bachelor’s program)

For more information on the President’s Student Leadership Program visit: http://umanitoba.ca/leadership_institute

Leadership in 2019 must be nimble and responsive, while clear-eyed and future-oriented.

This leadership might be exercised by a particular person, but more often will be the product and property of people working together, groups of leaders engaged in collaboration. No one person or perspective is likely to have all the answers needed to meet today’s pressing challenges. This makes the skills related to collaboration increasingly important.

Today, leadership is the capacity to take action, to recognize and confront the tough problems and create opportunities that impact our wellbeing. It is ‘adaptive work,’ in the phrase used by Ron Heifitz an inspiring scholar who wrote the book, Leadership Without Easy Answers; Leadership is very much about assuming and embracing responsibility – it rests on an ability to see possibilities, what needs changing, what new endeavours we can create in our organizations, businesses or communities, what improvements can be made, and then, having the capacity to pursue these, with others. It takes courage, savvy, caring and commitment.

Collaboration and the ability to collaborate with people who are different from each other is a critical underpinning to the practice of leadership. The multiple perspectives that come from diverse backgrounds, interests, life experiences and training contribute to stronger vision and the capacity to implement that vision. This is true whether the leadership project relates to small improvements or major initiatives. The ability to embrace diversity is a key element in success.

In creating our approach for the President’s Student Leadership Program, we have focused on three key principles that have inspired our vision for the program.

First, leadership development as immersive – this embraces but goes beyond thinking about experiential learning. We want students to learn from leaders in contexts that might be unfamiliar to the learner. For example, business students shadowing leaders in health care or social work students shadowing leaders in law. These types of interactions are key to students’ knowledge as future leaders, allowing them to develop applicable skills in understanding multiple perspectives.

Second, we will develop learning that is inclusive. Programming that is inclusive should be integrative of different leadership models, identity groups, communities and aspirations.

In the President’s Student Leadership Program, we strive to have participants reflect the diverse community we live in, and are working to identify the most committed student leaders to participate from across different communities, groups and sectors. Research has shown that young people’s aspirations to lead are highly influenced by seeing themselves among the leadership in their own broader societies. The value gained from diverse students interacting with female and male leaders, leaders who are Indigenous, who are from different backgrounds and nationalities or who are new to Canada – is high. Leadership development builds this diversity from the beginning.  Inclusivity is also about interdisciplinary focus. We do not live in silos; our organizations do not operate in silos. Enabling young leaders to see things from different perspectives is a critical skill in leading. It fosters respect, responsibility, and vision.

Third, in 2019 leadership development programming must be innovative –in terms of its ability to deliver knowledge that bridges boundaries of many kinds, using a variety of methods. For example, I have worked with and conducted research on how improvisation as a skillset provides the learner with an outward focus; this focus is key to leading in our complex society and teaching future leaders that “it’s not about me.” The message again here is one of collaboration – none of us is as smart as all of us.

For students at the University of Manitoba or throughout the province – Do you recognize where change is needed and work towards it? Have you been a leader, either formally or informally, and had an impact that benefitted your school or community? Do you want to continue to make a contribution as a leader, in the future?

If you have answered yes to these questions, I’d encourage you to apply for next year’s President’s Student Leadership Program.

For more information on the President’s Student Leadership Program, including application criteria visit: umanitoba.ca/leadership_institute. 

The Institute for Leadership Development in the Asper School of Business will run its first cohort of the President’s Student Leadership Program beginning in June 2019. Participants from diverse backgrounds and experience will gain a broad perspective on leadership, including ethical implications, problem solving, the role of leaders in social change, and the challenges of leading in critical sectors of our economy and society.

This program is designed for students already active as leaders in their community who are looking to improve their skills and more fully achieve their potential

Suzanne Gagnon, program director, explains: “This program is designed to guide the participants to thrive in their careers, no matter what field or discipline. They will learn from top leaders in Manitoba about some of their biggest leadership issues and opportunities, and how these leaders confronted those challenges. Students will learn firsthand from these site visits as well as hands-on workshops, and collaborate with their program peers in different walks of life, disciplines, and backgrounds, to gain insight into what they have learned and develop more advanced and broader perspectives as leaders both now and for the future.”

Students will examine contemporary leadership issues and engage with locally and internationally renowned leaders from social services to the arts, Indigenous leadership, the justice system, healthcare, IT and construction and trades.

“This program is designed for students already active as leaders in their community who are looking to improve their skills and more fully achieve their potential. We want students who know how to collaborate and partner, and want to learn more,” says Gagnon. “It will help you move from good, to better, to best.”

The President’s Student Leadership Program is open to students of all faculties and colleges at the University of Manitoba. It is also open to students of the partner schools: of the University of Winnipeg, Red River College and University College of the North. The long-term plan is for the program to be open to all post-secondary institutions in Manitoba. Admission to the program will be based on a combination of a student’s leadership experience and potential, demonstrated by their leadership commitment and impact to-date, and will reflect Manitoba’s diverse population and student body.

The program will accept a maximum of 28 postsecondary students (70 per cent from the U of M and 30 per cent from the partner schools), and the application process is open only from Jan. 14, 2019, to Feb. 25, 2019. Applicants should be half-way through their academic program but not in their final year.

Suzanne Gagnon

WEKH is a national network of researchers, practitioners and key stakeholders designed to address the barriers and biases that can impede the success of female entrepreneurs. WEKH, which is led by Ryerson University, has a goal of increasing representation of women in entrepreneurship and advancing sustainable female economic participation in Canada. Recently, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion, announced funding of $9 million for this initiative.

“We are happy and eager to partner with the other regional nodes across Canada to further empower and support women entrepreneurs by bringing together the knowledge and initiatives of Manitoba organizations working on this critical area for women and our economy,” Gagnon says. “We look forward to providing a knowledge hub for the many dedicated and leading organizations working specifically to support women’s entrepreneurship in the city and the province.”

“WEKH will create an inclusive and supportive network that will amplify our collective knowledge and endeavours about what is needed to further support women and advance this important sector for economic and social well-being,” said professor Lysa Porth, Associate Dean Strategic Partnerships at the Asper School. “Our role in the WEKH is exciting, and will allow us to leverage and contribute to the work we are already doing at the Asper School, the Indigenous Business Education Partners and the Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship, bolstering our local talent to drive our province’s prosperity and ingenuity to new heights.”

As a critical driver of economic growth, entrepreneurship can provide a pathway to economic stability in communities across the country. While more women in Canada are choosing entrepreneurship and self-employment as a viable alternative to traditional employment, research shows that barriers and biases remain. These barriers and biases are amplified for women in sectors outside of technology, for newcomer and racialized women, Indigenous women, women with disabilities and women in rural or low-growth areas. WEHK will address challenges that female entrepreneurs face by providing a coordinated network that fosters an evidence base for how to best support women entrepreneurs, using existing knowledge and new research where gaps exist.

WEKH currently includes a network of 10 partner nodes and 37 supporters that reach more than 100,000 female entrepreneurs at different stages of development and more than 250 organizations across the public, private and non-profit sectors. The U of M’s mandate as a regional node within this national knowledge hub is to provide outreach to the important organizations that serve the province. Manitoba’s hub will specifically focus on breaking down barriers for women, particularly for Indigenous women and new immigrants. Supporting Manitoba institutions include the Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology, Red River College and the Information Technology Association of Manitoba.

WEKH is part of the Government of Canada’s Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, and will track and report on the status of women’s entrepreneurship in Canada and help mainstream organizations, financial institutions and others to become more inclusive in their policies, programs and practices. Located at the University of Manitoba, the I.H. Asper School of Business has thrived for over 80 years as an institution that educates the innovative business leaders of today and tomorrow.